As if Tegra 4 wasn't enough for CES 2013, NVIDIA is also dropping another bombshell on show attendees: Project SHIELD. Project SHIELD is NVIDIA's entry into the handheld gaming sector.

The handheld gaming console is a multifaceted device that is not only capable of playing any game from Google Play, but can also stream games from a PC (including STEAM games). For streaming to work, however, you must be connected via Wi-Fi and use a GeForce GTX 650 or higher GPU.

Project SHIELD is powered by Tegra 4 and comes with a 5" 720p touch display (294 ppi). It also features t also features what NVIDIA calls a "console-grade controller". The handheld console looks like an Xbox 360 controller on crack with a screen attached, but it's much more than that. Project SHIELD runs a "clean" version of Android Jelly Bean and has access to all Android games and applications.

Pricing is unknown at this time, but the device will be available during the second quarter of 2013.

So what do you guys think? Are consumers going to want to fork over money for another Android-powered gaming device (instead of a smartphone that you carry around 24-7-365) just to get physical controls built-in? Is the PC streaming option a viable option? Offer up your thoughts in the comments section.

The only way it would even make any sense would be if you could use it over long distances via a wifi internet connection. The last thing on earth I can see wanting to do is sit in a different room than my expensive gaming pc and play an FPS with a gamepad on a 5 inch screen.

They are also alluding to this thing being very costly, which I fully expect to be the case where Nvidia is involved.

I would be more interested in something like a gameclip and emulators to play old 2d console games via emulator on my smartphone than something like this. Which I suppose I could go out and do right now anyway.

The last thing on earth that is going to succeed is a high cost dedicated handheld gaming device at this point. PS Vita being a good example of what happens to dedicated handheld gaming devices amidst the ongoing smartphone arms race.